What if your favourite children's authors designed your baby's nursery?

Instead of going the classic pink or blue route, why not give the baby’s room a design that’s nearly as memorable as your baby’s arrival itself?

Draw inspiration from the much-loved stories you read and relished as a child – ones you’ll certainly read to your little one someday, too. They weird and wacky designs will certainly put a smile on your face. After all, who doesn't like a bit of nostalgia?

Budget Direct have created some fun, fantastical designs to help you get going. Which one is your favourite?

Related: Design a child's room that's gender-neutral and super stylish

1. Dr. Seuss' 'Cat in the Hat' nursery room

dr seuss cat in the hat nursery room

(Image credit: TBC)

'Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.' Ah! Our favourite quote from the beloved Dr Seuss. And one that certainly rings true for this curvaceous nursery.  Like his illustrations, your designs would marry surreal art with a hint of art deco and the whimsical nature of children’s doodles. The room would have a flow to it as well, since Seuss favoured curving lines to straight ones.

2. J.K. Rowling's 'Harry Potter' nursery room

j k rowlings harry potter nursery room

(Image credit: TBC)

Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin? Whichever house you find yourself in, you'll want to start your early years in this Hogwart-inspired nursery. It will take more than the wave of a magic wand to turn your nursery into a room right out of Harry Potter. But the effort will be worth it. Perhaps you’ll be inspired by the medieval, gothic castle that’s home to Hogwarts or by bustling Diagon Alley that’s reminiscent of a charming London street. You’ll work with dark green, burgundy, and other rich colours often associated with elite schools. And while you won’t have an actual Nimbus 2000, you might keep a replica handy to sweep up after the little one.

3. Lewis Carroll's 'Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland' nursery room

lewis carrolls alices adventures in wonderland nursery room

(Image credit: TBC)

The author of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland may have been a mathematician and inventor, but he’s famous for creating some of the most memorable characters in children’s literature. The March Hare, Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter and Queen of Hearts populated Wonderland, but they’d be perfectly at home in a baby’s nursery as well. Naming the entrance “The Rabbit Hole”, hanging a mobile with the Cheshire Cat’s floating smile, and including a baby bottle that says “Drink Me” seem almost mandatory.

Related: Play around with colour for fun children’s bedroom schemes

4. Eric Carle's 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar' nursery room

eric carles the very hungry caterpillar nursery room

(Image credit: TBC)

The look of The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Carle’s other books would make for a very striking nursery. Bold, colourful collages against simple, white backgrounds would redefine wallpaper. You could incorporate bright, floral elements and all types of animals – from the tiniest of insects to the biggest of bears. The texture Carle adds with a distressed and weathered look could manifest itself in the use of shabby-chic furniture.

5. Maurice Sendak’s 'Where the Wild Things Are' nursery room

maurice sendaks where the wild things are nursery room

(Image credit: TBC)

Monsters should never hide under the bed in a child’s room. They should be out in the open, especially when they’re based on the big-eyed, and even bigger-footed, friendly fiends in maybe the most famous children’s book ever: Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are. Another element that would be different in a Sendak-inspired room? The colour palette. Instead of the bright colours normally used in a nursery, this one would incorporate muted earth tones to create a warm, natural feel. And the designs would combine the beauty of cross-hatched 19th-century prints with the playfulness of cartoons.

Related: If children could build houses this is how fabulous they would be

6. Hans Christian Andersen 'The Ugly Duckling' nursery room

hans christian andersen the ugly duckling nursery room

(Image credit: TBC)

Famous for marrying fantasy with contemporary settings, Hans Christian Andersen is a master storyteller. So why not transform your nursery from average to amazing with ducks, swans and a farmyard theme based on The Ugly Duckling? Or create a kingdom under the sea like the one in The Little Mermaid. Or even design the wintry world of The Snow Queen, the tale upon which Frozen is based. Your baby’s room will be as unconventional as Andersen’s fairy tales.

A little love and a lot of imagination can turn your baby’s nursery into a space that’s more special than it already is. And like raising a child, it’s highly rewarding and a great source of pride.

Deputy Editor

Jennifer is the Deputy Editor (Digital) for Homes & Gardens online. Prior to her current position, she completed various short courses a KLC Design School, and wrote across sister brands Ideal Home, LivingEtc, 25 Beautiful Homes, Country Homes & Interiors, and Style at Home.